Porsche’s New Design Boss Worked On The Gorgeous Bentley Batur

The winds of change are blowing at Porsche. Mere months after former McLaren CEO Michael Leiters replaced Oliver Blume at the helm of the Zuffenhausen brand, another leadership change was announced today. From February 1, Tobias Sühlmann will succeed Michael Mauer as Head of Design.

Much like Porsche’s new CEO, 46-year-old Sühlmann also previously worked at McLaren, where he had two stints. As Lead Designer for Special Projects, he was involved in developing the wild Solus GT. He returned to the Woking-based brand in 2023 as Chief Design Officer, but his involvement in the McLaren W1 was minimal, as the flagship’s design had already been largely finalized.

Sühlmann spent years across various Volkswagen Group brands, including the core VW marque, where he worked on the still-gorgeous Arteon. His résumé also includes the Passat and the soon-to-be-retired Touareg. At Bentley, he contributed to the stunning Batur, while Bugatti hired him as Head of Exterior Design Creative Development. His background further includes Aston Martin, where he served as Chief Exterior Designer.

Seventeen years younger than his predecessor, Sühlmann has his work cut out for him. Porsche is developing a new crossover with combustion engines to replace the first-generation Macan. Scheduled to arrive in 2028 under a different name, it will leave the Macan badge exclusively to the electric model.

Additionally, Porsche is still planning a three-row SUV positioned above the Cayenne. Initially conceived as a purely electric vehicle, it will now launch with a hybrid powertrain instead. A fully electric version is likely to follow, although that may depend on EV uptake in the luxury segment.

Sühlmann is unlikely to leave his mark on the electric 718, as the combustion-free Boxster and Cayman are nearing their debut and their designs have long been finalized. However, Porsche has pledged to bring back gas-powered sports cars with inline-six engines. The new Head of Design is therefore expected to influence the look of future ICE models slated for release in the coming years.

Motor1’s Take: It’s worth noting that Porsche’s new Head of Design and CEO already know each other, having previously worked together at McLaren. They’re now reunited as a team, this time in Zuffenhausen.

These are challenging times for Porsche, but with two key appointments, the company appears confident it can turn things around. A new design leader, paired with a renewed and much-needed appreciation for combustion engines, points to hopefully exciting times ahead.